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EAST COUNTY
You. Your neighbors. Your neighborhood.
Thursday, OCTOBER 11, 2012
community SPORTS
OUR TOWN
SCHOOLS
Event raises Lakewood claims $13,800 for district win against cancer research. Tarpon Springs.
Witt children ‘hop’ toward decades past.
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isolated incidents By Pam Eubanks | Managing Editor beauty and the feet
Accident, fight dampen mood Several children were injured Oct. 5, at Music on Main, after the disc jockey’s light fixture fell on the crowd.
Courtesy photo
LAKEWOOD RANCH — Laughter and dancing during Lakewood Ranch Main Street’s monthly Music on Main concert came to a screeching halt around 7:47 p.m. Oct. 5, after a light fixture fell and struck a
group of children. Capt. Larry Luh, of Manatee County Emergency Medical Services, said EMS originally received a call for a single patient mouth injury related to stage lighting, but they discovered
more injuries when they arrived on scene, at the northeastern end of the plaza near Lakewood Ranch Cinemas. Four children were treated on scene, and two were transported to Lakewood Ranch Medical
+ Bashaw stride for cancer research
Center with minor injuries, Luh said. Caretakers later took two of the children to the hospital. Bystanders said the wind picked up suddenly and swept up a banner hanging from the disc jockey’s lights. The trellis-like light fixture toppled and landed on the children. “Thankfully, nobody was seri-
SEE MUSIC ON MAIN / PAGE 4
HAUTE DOG
Bashaw Elementary School students Sept. 14 and Sept. 21 raised $225 for the school’s team, The Can Do Core Crew, that will be participating in the American Cancer Society’s Making Strides for Breast Cancer Walk. Students were allowed to walk the school’s backfield in return for $1 donations to support the team. The American Cancer Society’s Making Strides for Breast Cancer Walk will take place Oct. 20, at the Lakewood Ranch Polo Club.
+ Salon rounds up ponytails Boutique Out East will hold its second Ponytail Roundup Saturday, Oct. 13. The event will collect hair for Locks of Love, a nonprofit organization that provides hair prosthetics to financially disadvantaged children with medical hair-loss conditions. The event will feature snacks, beverages, raffles and giveaways. Locks of Love donation guidelines require that hair be at least 10 inches long, clean and dry and free of bleach. For more information visit locksoflove.org. The Ponytail Roundup will take place from 3 to 6 p.m. at 2559 Lakewood Ranch Blvd., Bradenton. At the event, one lucky child, who was nominated prior to the event, will receive free pampering and gifts from the salon. For additional information call the salon at 746-1500.
SEE OUR TOWN / PAGE 4
Pam Eubanks
Joyce North and her dog, Rooney, compete in the “Mario and Luigi” dog costume contest, during Lakewood Ranch Community Activities Corp.’s first Festa Italia event Oct. 6, at Central Park in Lakewood Ranch. For more photos, see page 19.
emergency response
By Pam Eubanks | Managing Editor
I-75 pileup yields no fatalities A 47-vehicle accident on Interstate 75 Oct. 5 resulted in 52 injuries. EAST COUNTY — Charges are pending in an interstate traffic accident that sent more than 20 people to the hospital and closed a section of I-75 for about six hours Friday, Oct. 5. The Florida Highway Patrol is
still investigating the crash, which occurred around 3:30 p.m., at the overpass for University Parkway. An FHP report states 47 vehicles were involved in 12 separate collisions, during which 52 people suffered injuries.
Of those injured, 22 were transported to local hospitals. Two were flown to area hospitals with critical, but non-life threatening, injuries.
SEE CRASH / PAGE 2
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INDEX Briefs......................7 Classifieds ...........29
Cops Corner..........12 Crossword.............28
Opinion...................8 Real Estate...........26
Sports...................13 Weather................28
Vol. 13, No. 39 | One section YourObserver.com